Tax Reform

Favors a tax reform for both individuals and businesses with simplification and competitiveness as main objective. Businesses and families in my district are concerned about our tax code and that must change.

Believes with hard work and negotiations, we can reach a deal to benefit our American people.

Education

Recognizes the importance of early childhood education and supports legislation to help make quality pre-school education available to all.

Supports a robust, interdisciplinary public education system.

Will fight to close the “achievement gap” facing families in districts with underperforming public schools.

Believes every American should be have access to the level of education they require to reach their life goal.

Supports the DREAM act to help make college a reality for more young adults.

Fiscal Responsibility

Believes that growing deficit is a challenge that must be addressed now: if we fix our deficit problems now, we will do so in a smart way that helps us invest in our future. If we wait too long, our creditors like China will dictate the process.

Was one of the 38 Members of Congress to vote for the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan, which eliminates $4 trillion of debt over ten years. USA Today listed Jim among the "Brave 38" for his vote.

Supported bipartisan legislation to force the two parties to negotiate in good faith to avert a replay of the 2011 showdown over the "debt ceiling" (which resulted in the first-ever downgrade of our nation's credit rating).

Voted to cut taxes repeatedly throughout the recession, including the $275 billion of tax cuts in the Recovery Act, the reduction of the payroll tax, and the two-year extension of the 2001 and 2003 income tax cuts.

Supports PAYGO, which requires new spending be funded before it is signed in to law.

Voted for health care reform which will eliminate the Medicare Prescription Drug “doughnut hole” and gave seniors affected by this gap $250 toward their prescription drugs to cover their costs before the fix goes completely into effect.

Voted for an immediate 50% discount on brand-name prescriptions for seniors affected by the Medicare “doughnut hole."

Supports ensuring all Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare

Transportation

Supports increased investment in transportation to get people back to work and repair outdated roads, bridges, and rail lines

Voted for improvements to Metro-North trains and stations.

Led the effort to secure multi-million dollar transportation infrastructure grants to improve access to the Stamford train station and build the new roads to necessary to redevelop Steel Point in Bridgeport.

Worked to connect resources from the local, state, and federal governments to make the Pulse Point bus project in Norwalk a reality and to give mass transit in Bridgeport a boost. The transit hubs in both cities are serving more riders while polluting less.

Voted for the Recovery Act, which funded transportation improvements throughout the towns of southwestern Connecticut.

Veterans

Honors the service of our nation's veterans and recognizes a deep moral obligation to strengthen our nation's network of support for American veterans.

Has supported legislation to improve the Veterans Administration's provision of care. Jim supported new laws to: allow the VA to hire more doctors and nurses and establish new clinics and health service centers for veterans across the country; provide post-traumatic stress and mental health screening to every returning soldier; and vastly expand VA health care services for our 1.8 million women veterans.

Has assisted hundreds of veterans and their families who have asked for his help through his lcoal offices.

Worked on legislation designed to address the mental health needs of veterans and reduce the rate of suicide among veterans. These include the Veterans Mental Health Screening and Assessment Act and the Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act.

Promotes and participates in the Veterans History Project to document the experiences of veterans and preserve them for generations to come.

Meet Jim

Congressman Jim Himes is a tireless voice for common-sense, independent solutions to the challenges facing Connecticut. He's looking out for the middle class, fighting for affordable health care for all, taking on special interests like the NRA to end gun violence, and working to create economic opportunity for working families.